The Town Hall Hotel and Apartments is located in London's artsy East End. Striking design mixes Edwardian influences with 1930s art deco style and contemporary touches. This hotel first opened as a town hall in 1910 and many of the rooms, studios, and apartments have original period details. All rooms have free Wi-Fi and iPod docks. Bathrooms are especially luxurious, most with soaking tubs and separate walk-in showers. Vintage furniture and modern kitchens make these loft-style rooms both functional and inviting. Hotel amenities include a nice indoor pool, a fitness room, and a stylish Michelin-rated restaurant. While some guests might feel that the location is isolated from London's top attractions, the Town Hall Hotel offers great value for money in a hip neighborhood.

The 282-room Royal Horseguards offers classic Victorian architecture and modern amenities in a five-star luxury setting with views of the London Eye and the Thames River. Ornate sculpting, stunning high ceilings, and romantic archways are all dominant elements that complement a rich history -- the Royal Horseguards housed the Secret Service during World War I. The hotel, with a horse guards theme throughout, connects to One Whitehall Place, the palatial meeting and events space.

Elegant and eclectic, this 74-room luxury boutique hotel set in the heart of London's City District has been converted from an original Victorian banking hall, and retains stunningly beautiful period features. With elegant common spaces, abundant luxury amenities, and warmly inviting rooms, it doesn't seem as if there's much to fault at this hotel, but guests have complained about slow Wi-Fi.

This hip boutique hotel owned by the high-profile D+D restaurant group exudes stylish luxury, with impeccable design elements and dark, sexy public spaces. The boutique's interiors, which were designed by the prestigious Conran + Partners, offer unique touches such as edgy artwork created specifically for the hotel. With its professional and friendly service and Michelin-star restaurant, it’s hard to find fault with South Place Hotel -- except maybe the hefty price tag.

Featuring only 29 rooms, this quaint-and-cozy boutique hotel offers an inviting, intimate experience in the middle of the posh residential neighborhood of Knightsbridge. As to be expected with a tiny boutique hotel, rooms lack extra space, but the decor is fresh and modern with neutral colors and the occasional designer-like touch (like stacked glass-ball lamps and pretty patterned wallpaper) -- though the random uninspired watercolor paintings feel a bit misplaced. Perhaps because of the surrounding area, rooms rates are here are above average despite the fact that rooms are missing some basic amenities (like a mini bar). But the free daily traditional English cream tea with homemade scones and the open bar in the evenings are definite perks.

The Royal Garden Hotel is a busy and vibrant 396-room option located in the heart of Kensington. Sophisticated, contemporary rooms are spacious with big flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, minibars, and (mostly) king-size beds. Some rooms have beautiful views overlooking Hyde Park while all have upscale bathrooms and tea/coffee facilities. Hotel features include a fitness center with kickboxing and Latin dance classes, a spa with a range of treatments, and two restaurants -- the ground-floor Park Terrace restaurant and the 10th-floor gourmet Chinese restaurant, Min Jiang. There is also a great hotel bar, Bertie's Bar. A five-minute walk from the nearest tube station, this hotel is a good pick for its Kensington location and chic modern style.

Known for its celebrity sightings -- Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and various high-earning soccer players have been spotted at the Mayfair -- its A-list bar, casino, and private theater known to host red carpet events, the five-star May Fair is luxurious and prestigious but without the stuffy pomp and circumstance of some of its neighboring competitors. Its 400 rooms, including 12 suites, are lavish yet playful, and a vast array of meeting rooms cater to business guests.

The Montcalm at the Brewery is a stunning five-pearl hotel located at the northern edge of London's Square Mile, just across the street from the famous Barbican Centre for performing arts. The hotel is housed in a historically protected building that was once a brewery. The 236 modern rooms have purple and green decor, and the extensive features include a fine dining restaurant, a casual, quirky gastropub, and a wellness area. Its financial district location is a bit far from most tourist sights, making it better suited for business travelers.

The central, exclusive Metropolitan Hotel is located at the nexus of Hyde Park, Knightsbridge, and Mayfair. Known for the excellent Michelin-rated restaurant Nobu and nightlife hot spot Met Bar, this hotel is a chic, upscale option. Rooms are sunny and spacious with flat-screen TVs and iPod docks, and the contemporary lobby is home to a knowledgeable concierge service. The small, but well-equipped spa and fitness center along with free Wi-Fi are perks here, but rates are pricey and room amenities are limited for this price point.